Hospital cooperating with, not target of, investigation

WORLAND — South Big Horn County Hospital is not under investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency but rather cooperating with an ongoing investigation.

Hospital CEO John Adlesich said Monday that an article in Friday’s Daily News

erroneously reported the hospital was under investigation. He said the hospital is not the target of the investigation and the hospital

administration and board is cooperating with the investigation. He said he could not state any further details regarding the investigation.

Adlesich said he was also in attendance for the entire meeting. The article stated he was not in attendance. The chairman of the board is Jeff Grant. The chairman was incorrectly identified in the March 24 article.

According to a press release from the board on March 16, in early February, South Big Horn County Hospital District (SBHCHD) and its board became aware of serious patient safety issues and possible violations of state and federal regulations taking place at the hospital. The hospital conducted an investigation into the concerns and verified the existence of significant issues. Appropriate law enforcement was notified immediately and the hospital has cooperated with an ongoing investigation [from the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and DEA].

The hospital board also stated in the release that they regret the recent resignation of three of its providers, but are working diligently to hire full time physicians willing to relocate to the area.

According to the release, the hospital’s certification has recently changed from six beds to 10 beds. This change means that we can treat more of our citizens here, closer to their home and families, instead of having to transfer them. This change also means more jobs: another physician/provider and more registered nurses.

With a recent State Loan and Investment Board grant for $500,000, the hospital will soon begin construction of a brand new clinic.